The Role of the Team in Project Implementation

Abstract

This paper intends to debate the importance of a team in successful project management. We discuss selected methodologies and pay special attention to the decision-making process in teams using traditional and agile approaches. The methods used in this article are the analysis and synthesis of the literature, as well as the results of carried out researches. To fulfill the aim of this study, we briefly characterize traditional and agile methodologies of project management, describe the team building process and define the desired competences of the team members. We also explore the differences in the decision-making process resulting from the methodology of project management selected. Additionally, we also analyze the result of research on the role of a team in the project management process. Regardless of the methodology adopted, it is crucial to not only consider the candidates’ knowledge or experience while selecting project team members, but also their personality traits and interpersonal skills (social skills). However, it should be pointed out that given the specific nature of the agile methodologies, the social skills of team members are incredibly important, perhaps even more important than professional competences. In the case of traditional methodologies, teams of highly qualified specialists able to make quick and independent decisions are more efficient. In agile methodologies, the decision-making power of the project team is much greater. As the decisions are often made collectively, the executive managers’ trust in the project team is of vital importance.